tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748170852538098656.post3158936167659747249..comments2024-01-18T16:58:05.201-08:00Comments on What Athol Wrote...: Pastor-PoliticiansAthol Dicksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946058024343277304noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748170852538098656.post-73903494557135529102007-05-17T15:00:00.000-07:002007-05-17T15:00:00.000-07:00Great question about John Paul II, Mark. It got me...Great question about John Paul II, Mark. It got me thinking about HOW we can speak the truth (as Dr. Falwell tried to do so boldly) while still retaining the respect of those who disagree. As usual, Jesus strikes me as a good model. While he certainly ended up making a great many people angry, and the truth will often do that ("the Gospel is an offense...") consider this: Jesus never came right out and said, “I am God.” He knew his audience was not ready for the pure, unvarnished truth, so he put it to them in ways they could take inside their minds without throwing up barriers at the outset. He didn’t say, “I am God,” he said, “I am the way.” He was saying the same thing, but using words that did not push their anger buttons right off the bat. Sometimes they saw through it and tried to stone him anyway, but usually he got his ideas past them, and got them thinking instead of stoning. Isn’t that what we want, too?Athol Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13946058024343277304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748170852538098656.post-50324631263737614892007-05-17T14:08:00.000-07:002007-05-17T14:08:00.000-07:00Athol, I'm thrilled that you've launched your own ...Athol, I'm thrilled that you've launched your own blog! The contrast between Falwell's 'legacy' and Graham's is interesting to contemplate. I ran into Falwell once by chance, but never knew him, but I've known people he influenced profoundly for the good. Likewise I've cringed at some of his statements, just as I have at those of pretty much all of the public evangelicals. Still, I was always impressed by the respect he seemed to get from his longtime critics. <BR/><BR/>I wonder how someone like John Paul II fits into the equation. He articulated much more detailed, and much more unpopular views than Graham has, and yet he's credited with having contributed to the fall of the Iron Curtain and was much loved at his death. It seems to me there is a way to do more than articulate the Gospel -- or perhaps I should say, to articulate it in all its fullness -- without dragging the church into disrepute. And yet, it doesn't seem easy.J. Mark Bertrandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07252756914207435460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748170852538098656.post-53510508794154504262007-05-17T12:27:00.000-07:002007-05-17T12:27:00.000-07:00Great blog. This past Tuesday, Larry King had a fu...Great blog. This past Tuesday, Larry King had a full hour on Jerry Falwell. Al Sharpton actually said some very honest and kind things about Falwell, as did Larry King. Of course, they were quick to remind everyone that they agreed with him on nothing social or political.<BR/>He, as we all do, made mistakes but I think his positive impact on the world through his ministry and Libery University is unmeasurable.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10371502121455896338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748170852538098656.post-54681640921776049162007-05-16T20:12:00.000-07:002007-05-16T20:12:00.000-07:00I thanked God for Jerry Falwell's life today, and ...I thanked God for Jerry Falwell's life today, and its influence for good in mine. I knew him as a godly man with a loving heart. He was a leader who sought to promote what is right and to discourage what is wrong.haroldholmyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04125250560670808640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748170852538098656.post-573421407962401042007-05-16T16:52:00.000-07:002007-05-16T16:52:00.000-07:00I just added your blog to my favorites. Glad you'r...I just added your blog to my favorites. Glad you're here.<BR/><BR/>My local radio station had a morning bashing session. I couldn't believe it. It was disgraceful. I'm fully aware of the anti-christian bias in the media, but for goodness sake, at least wait until after the funeral. They were almost giddy about the man's death. <BR/><BR/>I agree with you. Billy Graham's funeral will probably rival Ronald Reagan's. <BR/><BR/>Reagan was a obviously a political figure. The far left hated him in life but were very respectful in death. So why all the hatred for Falwell? One word: Christianity.<BR/><BR/>-dayleDayle James Arceneauxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09277352334992032836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748170852538098656.post-86433568905735548642007-05-16T14:12:00.000-07:002007-05-16T14:12:00.000-07:00Looking more to good stuff like this.Looking more to good stuff like this.Stan Potockihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05919608728278445370noreply@blogger.com